Districts decision to allow book is the correct one

Thursday, January 31, 2013

What a refreshing decision by members of the West Chester Area School District to allow students in its 10th grade to read a book like, “Water for Elephants,” that has been described by one reviewer as “an enchanting escapist fairytale.” We applaud not only the decision, but the board members who agreed to accept the recommedation of a committee that the book be retained as part of a “literature circle” in the honors English curriculum at B. Reed Henderson High School. Under that program, students can choose among a number of books that have similar themes. “Water for Elephants” is one of the books available, but is not mandated.

The committee, made up of a mix of teachers, administrators, a parent, a student, and a community member, held a thorough review of the book and the complaints by some members of the greater community that it was unsuitable for reading by children of a certain age. After meeting twice, the committee concluded with an 8-1 vote that the literary merit and educational objectives of the book outweighed the likelihood of it having a negative impact on students.

“Water for Elephants” tells the story of an older man in a nursing home reflecting on his life when he worked as part of a traveling circus during the Great Depression. District officials said the critics objected to it because of its sexual content surrounding the main character’s interest.

The board was correct to uphold the work of the committee, members of which defended their work convincingly from the complaints of those who would seek to ban the book from the 10th grade readers.

“We are not making this up as we go,” said Diane Masar, a Henderson teacher and committee member. “We’re thoughtful, educated and deliberate; we take into account the developmental age of students, cognitive age of students, what we see among them socially. This is a matter of course and teaching.”

Masar said the students are capable of handling contemporary literature and can “navigate them with the full powers of their intellect.” How true, and how reflective of what happens when students truly work through subject material.

Board member Maria Pimley, who was on the committee, said she is personally uncertain whether she would allow her children to read the book at that age, but the bottom line is it would be her choice and not a mandate from a school official, as is the case here. Pimley said she was impressed with the process and thoroughness of the committee’s process, and reasoned that it is not her job to restrict material vetted by teachers and administrators.

As for the two board members who chose to ban the book, and those parents and members of the community who spoke against it this week, the nicest thing we can say is that they are innocently misguided in their attempts to shield students from a description of life they find objectionable. But we note that it is one subject that sets their teeth on edge – sexual development – and not others. We would be more sympathetic if they would show up at a public meeting to decry the use of “All Quiet on the Western Front” for its depiction of the horrors of war, or “The Grapes of Wrath” for its description of the degradation of institutional poverty. We will not hold our breath, however.